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Moncada arrives with White Sox with Cuban mentor in Abreu

CHICAGO (AP) — Yoan Moncada has a friend from his hometown to show him all about life in the big leagues in his new town.

The first lesson from new Chicago White Sox teammate Jose Abreu, a fellow product of Cienfuegos, Cuba, was on Chicago traffic.

But despite some construction and delays, the road to Guaranteed Rate Field was completed Wednesday for Moncada, Chicago’s new second baseman and baseball’s top prospect, according to Baseball America.

“I texted (Abreu) and I asked him in the morning if he can pick me up at the airport and he did it,” Moncada said through a translator. “I’m happy. I’m trying to enjoy the moment and enjoy this opportunity. I’m in the big leagues right now and this is where I want to be.”

The switch-hitting Moncada, 22, will bat sixth on Wednesday and wear No. 10, taking his place next to first baseman Abreu in the infield.

“I’ve known him since he was a kid,” Abreu said through a translator, from his locker stall next to Moncada’s. “We were from the same town, and I knew him from that time when I was playing there. He’s just an outstanding player. He’s got all the tools to be an All-Star.”

Moncada was acquired from the Boston Red Sox for ace Chris Sale in the offseason and hit .282 with 12 homers, 36 RBIs and 17 stolen bases at Triple-A Charlotte. Boston spent $63 million — including a record $31.5 million bonus — to sign Moncada in 2015 after he left Cuba. Moncada played eight games last season for the Red Sox, batting .211 with four hits in 19 at-bats. He drove in one run.

White Sox manager Rick Renteria admitted there was a special feeling in the air with the arrival of Moncada, the first to arrive from a deep crop of young players brought in by general manager Rick Hahn.

“I love his makeup. He’s driven,” Renteria said. “There are people who see him and he’s a very gifted athlete so sometimes he does things very easily that may be misconstrued as being nonchalant but he can get to balls, he can do things seemingly without any effort.

“He’s ready to give you everything he’s got. And he knows what we expect, what we ask of them. But we want them to have fun in the big leagues. He’s going to be a big part hopefully in where this organization is going.”

Moncada continues a Cuban connection for the franchise that dates to Hall of Famer Minnie Minoso and continued with the $26 million signing of 19-year-old outfielder Luis Robert earlier this summer. Abreu hopes to help Moncada along the way just as Cuban players Alexei Ramirez and Adrian Nieto did for him when he arrived in 2014.

Hahn has unloaded pitcher Jose Quintana to the Chicago Cubs and outfielder Adam Eaton to Washington, and continued late Tuesday night when third baseman Todd Frazier and relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle were dealt to the New York Yankees. The White Sox acquired a prospect package that included outfielders Blake Rutherford and Tito Polo, pitcher Ian Clarkin and veteran reliever Tyler Clippard.

Renteria said Clippard, who was traded for the fourth time in less than three seasons, will fill the closing role vacated by Robertson. Clippard, a right-hander, is 1-5 with a 4.95 ERA in 40 games for the Yankees.

Right-handed pitcher Brad Goldberg also joined the White Sox to help in the bullpen. He allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning his only outing with Chicago last month.

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